Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Husband of Mrs Ethel Maud Swain, Pioneer, Tasmania

The Late Private
Swain
TRIBUTE TO HIS BRAVERY
Mrs R. Swain, Pioneer, has received the following letter from Lieutenant F.  Green, 40th Battalion : —He writes— Before this letter reaches you, you will have received news of the  death of your husband, killed in action in France. It is unnecessary for me to tell you that you have my very deepest sympathy in your great loss. I know that more sympathy will  not heal the blow you have sustained but I can assure you that when I took from his pocket in the presence of his comrades a photo of yourself and your little ones, if anybody  ever had heart felt sympathy you had it then. Your husband met his death while doing his duty. He went forward at night to obtain information regarding a movement of the enemy, and while going forward a stray bullet struck him, going through the heart. Death was instantaneous; he suffered no pain, or was not disfigured in any way. We all felt his  death very keenly. He was universally popular, and one of the best soldiers I have seen; he was cool and daring under fire, always cheerful, and volunteered for every dangerous  job. On the night before his death, after being on duty without sleep for two nights, he came to me and offered to go back to the front line, and help carry out the wounded. This  he did, and when the wounded were all taken out, I sent him to bed for 12 hours. I am afraid no words of mine will comfort you; the loss is too great. But remember, you must be proud of him, He died doing his duty, and for his country and his loved ones at home he made the supreme sacrifice.